### 332

You magnify your vision and focus on the bloodthirsty beasts responsible that are for this slaughter. The creatures are muscular bipeds covered with coarse grey fur. A bony ridge runs from their foreheads to the base of their stunted tails and each has a mouth filled with tiger-like fangs. Some have crude axes fashioned from flint and bone with which they brutally decapitate and dismember the corpses.

‘Skarada!’ gasps Quang, in disbelief. ‘I encountered a Skarad years ago in the Voxai Swamp. I still carry the scars of that accursed creature.’

Bai and Deng are so shocked and outraged when they survey this terrible scene that they cannot suppress their anger. Vehemently, they curse the murdering bloodthirsty beasts. Lieutenant Quang hisses at them to be quiet but their curses have already reached the ears of the closest Skarada. One of them emits a piercing shriek and a dozen of its confederates respond instantly. They cease their gruesome feasting and come bounding up the slope of the hill towards your position.

If you wish to evade these Skarada, you can tell Quang and the Watchers to retreat from the hilltop and hurry back to the horses. Turn to 343.

Or you can unsheathe your Kai Weapon and prepare to fight the advancing Skarada the moment they reach the top of the hill. Turn to 118.